If you are using SQL Server and you want to get an overview of whats going on, you can make use of the “Activity Monitor”, which is available in Management Studio for SQL Server 2005 and later.

In Management Studio, just right click on the server (not the DB catalog) and pick Activity Monitor.

If you are using SQL Server 2000, you are in a bit of a tight spot.  Even thought the BOL say that you can use Activity Monitor from Mangement Studio, you can’t.  It’s a lie.  So you have to have Enterprise Manager installed.

From Enterprise Manager, under the server you want to view, expand the “Management” folder, and the “Crrent Activity” node.  Under there you will find Process Info, Locks/Process Id and Locks/Object.

Too bad MS didn’t make Management Studio backwards compatable like BOL claims it is.